SCHOOL NEWS

The following Hampton Roads Academy students from Newport News won in a recent writing contest about the Holocaust:

In the creative category, sophomore Nicole Rento, took third place and $75. Finalists were seniors Mae Alexandra Carpenter and Jennifer Lewis. They wrote an editorial responding to a chapter of Sam Althaus' book. Althaus is a Newport News resident and Holocaust survivor.

In the expository writing category, students were asked to compose questions they would ask Althaus and why they would ask those questions. Winners in this category include first place, sophomore Austin Sarfan of Newport News who won $150; and third-place winner senior Lauren McKinley of Newport News, who will receive $75. Finalists in this category include sophomores Jacob Ramey and Joe Saunders.

Students will be honored at the Holocaust Memorial Day, Yom Hashoah, on April 21, at Gildersleeve Middle School.

The contest was sponsored by the United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula Inc. The purpose is to encourage students to apply the lessons of history to the moral decisions they make today.

* The following Newport News residents have graduated from Excelsior College, Albany, N.Y.: Jeffrey Allen Meister, who earned an associate degree in science; Justin M. Morgan, who earned a bachelor of science degree; and Carl F. Scholle, who earned a bachelor of science degree in technology.

* The Regional Odyssey of the Mind Tournament was held at the Grafton School Complex in Yorktown on March 21. Thirteen school divisions and four independent schools participated in the tournament with 125 teams competing in five long-term and spontaneous problems. All first-place teams will move onto the state tournament being held at Menchville High School in Newport News on April 18. The winners in Newport News are: